Dr Anne Summers – misogyny and sexism

Dr Anne Summers AO has been at the forefront of debate surrounding the treatment of Prime Minister Julia Gillard since delivering her speech at the University of Newcastle’s Human Rights and Social Justice lecture in July this year.

Did you see Dr Summers’ latest opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald on Saturday, 20 October? Read it here.

In addition to widespread national media coverage, the controversial issue and Dr Summers’ surrounding comments were even published recently in the New Yorker!

If you missed Dr Summers speak at the University, watch the full speech via our YouTube channel. Read the transcript of the speech here.

Visit Dr Summers’ website for the full transcript of her speech including images and video links.

Thank you for posting this wonderful speech. Now that it’s November 2013, I am despairing of our apparent inablity to regain what has been lost in terms of respect for the political process, civility in public/political discourse, and politeness, if not actual respect, for democratically elected leaders. I am vehemently opposed to the current LNP government, and in particular the actions and attitudes of Tony Abbott, but also extremely disappointed at the hypocrisy of those who (correctly) railed against the way Julia Gillard was treated, and yet support wearing t-shirts that say “Abbott Hater” or calling him things like “an oxygen thief who must be stopped” in Facebook discussions. I would hope that these people are in the minority, but their apparent embrace of such violent speech when referring to a prime minister doesn’t sit happily alongside what should be a given societal respect for universal human rights, not to mention respect for Australian democracy. I recognise that Julia Gillard was up against particular barriers because of her gender that Tony Abbott does not have to deal with, and that the parliamentary antics of the LNP hardly constitute leading by example, but I would welcome credible voices such as Dr Anne Summers speaking out publicly on the importance of restoring civility to discussion and debate, no matter what side of the political fence we are on.